Osteoporosis News and Research

Latest Osteoporosis News and Research

Study may provide new developing approaches to treat age-related osteoporosis

Aging disrupts the balance between bone formation and bone destruction, resulting in osteoporosis, which is characterized by reduced bone mass and increased risk of fracture. Recent data have suggested that this imbalance is a result of a decrease in formation of bone forming osteoblast cells from mesenchymal cells upon aging.

28 Sep 2010

Hologic receives FDA voting for 3-D digital mammography system

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced that the Radiological Devices Panel (Panel) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unanimously voted that Hologic's Pre-Market Approval (PMA) demonstrated both the effectiveness and safety of the Company's Selenia Dimensions three-dimensional (3-D) digital mammography tomosynthesis system, "Selenia Dimensions 3-D."

From Hologic, Inc. 27 Sep 2010

Calcitonin combination therapy may help treat osteoarthritis: Study

Tarsa Therapeutics, Inc. and Unigene Laboratories, Inc. today reported preclinical data showing that calcitonin may have synergistic effects in combination with other drugs in reducing the collagen degradation associated with osteoarthritis.

27 Sep 2010

FDA grants ArthroCare marketing clearance for Parallax Contour Vertebral Augmentation Device

ArthroCare Corp., a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced today that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its Parallax® Contour® Vertebral Augmentation Device (Contour) specifically for void creation in a vertebral body followed by injection of bone cement. Vertebral body void creation followed by bone cement augmentation is commonly used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures.

24 Sep 2010

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

A concerted effort to boost research on women's health over the last two decades has lessened the burden of disease and reduced deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The effort has yielded less but still significant progress in reducing the effects of depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis on women, added the committee that wrote the report.

24 Sep 2010

Portable laser devices to probe early signs of diseases

Portable devices that use a laser beam to probe bones, teeth, and other parts of the body for early signs of diseases like osteoporosis and tooth decay may seem like something out of science fiction. But those devices are moving closer to reality, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

23 Sep 2010

$Spanish researchers confirm genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures$

Spanish researchers confirm genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures

Spanish researchers have confirmed there is a genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Although more studies are still needed, these findings will make it possible to take preventive measures.

22 Sep 2010

Novartis' SOM230 reduces cortisol levels in Cushing's disease patients

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today that the results of a Phase III study of SOM230 (pasireotide) showed a reduction in cortisol levels in patients with Cushing's disease, a condition in which a benign (non-cancerous) pituitary tumor causes the adrenal glands to produce excess cortisol and can be fatal. Results will be presented at the 14th Congress of the European Neuroendocrine Association (ENEA).

22 Sep 2010

EffRx, Nycomed announce European filing for EX101 marketing approval

EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA and its partner, the global pharmaceutical company Nycomed, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, today announced that the first European filing for marketing approval of EX101, a once-a-week 70mg buffered effervescent alendronate, for the treatment of osteoporosis, has been submitted. The filing triggers a milestone payment to EffRx.

21 Sep 2010

Public health at risk as Vitamin D evidence mounts

A group of prevention-focused healthcare organizations has expressed deep concern over recently-proposed restrictions to OHIP coverage of Vitamin D testing in the province. The proposed new legislation will delist OHIP insured Vitamin D testing for most Ontarians. Exceptions will be made for those with osteoporosis, malabsorption syndromes, and individuals taking medications that interfere with vitamin D absorption or metabolism.

21 Sep 2010

Diverse coalition urges California Governor to sign bill to provide health coverage for smoking cessation treatments

A large and unusually diverse of group of interests have come together to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign a key health related measure, Senate Bill 220 (Yee, D-San Francisco), which would provide health coverage of smoking cessation treatments and services.

18 Sep 2010

Ligand Pharmaceuticals transfers license rights to Proximagen for CXCR4 target

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has transferred exclusive license rights to Proximagen Limited for a series of compound hits related to the CXCR4 target with application for a number of indications including those related to the central nervous system. Ligand will receive an upfront payment and continue to be entitled to receive potential future milestone and royalty payments.

18 Sep 2010

FEMR and State of Illinois proclaim first-ever Fall Prevention Awareness Day

The Foundation for Education and Musculoskeletal Research (FEMR) and the state of Illinois officially proclaimed the first day of autumn, September 22, 2010, as Fall Prevention Awareness Day. FEMR will be raising awareness for fall prevention and the need for osteoporosis screening and treatment in an effort to reduce the incidence of fragility bone fractures among older residents of Illinois.

17 Sep 2010

Wintherix announces WX04554 molecule can cause bone healing

Wintherix, LLC, a privately held biotechnology company focusing on bone healing and regenerative medicine, today announced that WX04554, a potent small molecule activator of the Wnt pathway, has been designated as a lead drug for clinical development in bone healing and repair indications.

15 Sep 2010

TransPharma Medical completes ViaDerm-GLP1 agonist Phase 1a trial for type II diabetes

TransPharma Medical Ltd., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of drug products utilizing a proprietary active transdermal drug delivery technology, announced today the successful completion of a Phase 1a trial of ViaDerm-GLP1 agonist which is being developed for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II.

14 Sep 2010

$Bisphosphonates drug may lead to atypical femur fractures in osteoporosis patients: Report$

Bisphosphonates drug may lead to atypical femur fractures in osteoporosis patients: Report

A widely prescribed class of drugs is highly effective in reducing common bone fractures in people with osteoporosis, but an expert panel announced today that these same drugs - when used long term - may be related to unusual but serious fractures of the thigh bone.

14 Sep 2010

SpineAlign commences enrollment in European Observational Registry for VerteLift System

SpineAlign Medical, Inc. announced today that it has enrolled its initial patient in the European Observational Registry for the VerteLift System, an observation study to further assess the ability of the VerteLift System to treat the pain and dysfunction associated with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF), while providing clinically measurable height restoration based upon previous European experience and analysis.

13 Sep 2010

UK researchers’ new model to describe burden of postmenopausal osteoporosis

An article just published in the scientific journal 'Osteoporosis International' introduces a validated new model that can be used to describe the current and future burden of postmenopausal osteoporosis in different national settings.

9 Sep 2010

$FRAX model helps to evaluate fracture risk$

FRAX model helps to evaluate fracture risk

The WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX-) is being used increasingly by physicians to help evaluate fracture risk and identify those people who are most in need of osteoporosis treatment. To date, FRAX- models are available for 26 countries, with more currently in planning.

8 Sep 2010

AHRQ releases free evidence-based guides for eight health conditions

HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality today released a series of free evidence-based guides designed to help Spanish speakers understand and compare the risks, benefits and side effects of treatments for eight health conditions.

7 Sep 2010